Salt Marsh and Sand Dunes Tours

Ballona Wetlands
211 Culver Blvd., Ste. K, Playa Del Rey
303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey, 90293 (This is the meeting place)
Every Second Sunday of each month (call to confirm) (310) 306-5994
Sundays, June 13, July 11, August 8, 2010
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
Website

Meet in the parking lot behind Gordon’s Market at 303 Culver Blvd, Playa del Rey.
Join the Friends of Ballona Wetlands for an informative nature tour of the salt marsh and dunes. Learn about our coastal ecosystem and explore the wonders of nature right in the middle of urban Los Angeles.

Habitat Restoration Volunteer Days

Ballona Wetlands
7740 West Manchester Avenue, Playa Del Rey
303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey, 90293 (This is the meeting place)
Every Fourth Sunday of each month (call to confirm)
Sundays, June 26, July 24, August 28, 2010
9:30 a.m. – Noon
Ages: All (Kids under age 15 must be accompanied by adult but are welcome)
Cost: FREE
Website

Enter from parking lot behind Gordon’s Market at 303 Culver Blvd in Playa del Rey.
Try a different sort of family outing by helping nature and the local community. Volunteer together and help the Friends of Ballona Wetlands restore the last coastal wetland habitat in Los Angeles County. Volunteers get hands-on experience while learning about wetland ecology. The Friends provide gloves and tools. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

2010 Environmental Working Group Shoppers Guide – Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 – Now Available

The Environmental Working Group just released their annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 — a list of the twelve most pesticide laden fruits and vegetables and fifteen of the most pesticide free — as a shopper’s guide to produce purchasing. Topping this year’s Dirty Dozen is celery and includes peaches, blueberries and strawberries. Topping the Clean 15 is onion and avocado. The handy guide is printable and indespensible in your purse or wallet on your trips to the farmers market or grocery store. Particulary during this economy, it helps to have a narrowed-down list of what must, or should, be purchased organic! Check out the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 HERE.

Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit group that works to protect kids from toxic chemicals in our food, water, air and the products we use every day.  To learn more about them, join, or donate to the cause, visit the EWG website HERE.

Celebrate Earth Day with Five Pounds of FREE Trash from Trash for Teaching

We’ve written about how we’re fans of Trash for Teaching, the non-profit that makes manufacturing byproducts (otherwise thrown away as trash)–such as die-cut cardboard hearts, ribbons, long cardboard tubes, cones and so much more–available to schools and the public for children’s art projects. This Thursday, Earth Day, Trash or Teaching will be giving away five pounds of their materials from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Just show up at their warehouse then go crazy stocking up on unique materials for use during your kids next art project at home, a creative playdate or a one-of-a-kind birthday party arts and crafts table.

By upcycling these materials, you’ll also be ensuring that much less trash will go into landfills. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day!

Trash for Teaching warehouse is located at 2946 East 11th St., Los Angeles, CA 90023 (corner of 11th and Evergreen – entrance on Evergreen) For more information, call (323) 262-3400 ext. 12

South Coast Botanic Garden Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Free Open House and Activities

The South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Peninsula will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a free open house, special ceremonial event and activities for the whole family on Saturday, April 17, 2010, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Gardens are a beautiful aspect of the Palos Verdes Peninsula community with a unique history when in 1957 it was used as a landfill for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. In 1959, a woman named Frances Young lobbied for its development into a Botanic Garden and in 1960, it was officially dedicated as the South Coast Botanic Garden. South Coast Botanic Garden was the first of its kind in the world to successfully attempt this type of reclamation project.

Today, the 87-acre Garden which is located 10 miles south of the Los Angeles Airport in California, has more than 2,500 different species of plants from as far away as Australia, the Mediterranean, and southern Africa. About 100 trees and shrubs are rare, mature specimens infrequently seen elsewhere. The wide variety of plant life provides food and shelter to an abundant wildlife and bird population, and over 200 species of birds are sighted annually. Popular features include a small lake, Mediterranean Garden, AARS Rose Garden, Water-Wise Garden, Garden for the Senses, Cactus Garden, Children’s Garden, Fuchsia Garden, Dahlia Garden, Herb Garden, and Japanese Garden.

The Open House will include a spring Plant Sale on the upper meadow from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm; Garden Community Exhibits, Children’s Activities, Garden Lectures, Guided Tram and Walking Tours, Music & Art in the Garden, a Golf Putting Green, and a Food Court.

The South Coast Botanic Garden 50th Anniversary Celebration

South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, 90274; (310) 544-1948
Saturday, April 17, 2010
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
Website

90% Waste Free Topanga Earth Day Festival Celebrates Mother Earth

The 11th annual Topanga Earth Day festival will celebrate and promote ecological awareness, cultural respect and music on Saturday, April 17 and 18, 2010. Set in Topanga Canyon, the festival will give attendees the unique opportunity to learn about a variety of sustainable and holistic-living solutions through guest speakers and workshops, a healing village and ecological vendors who are “living by example” including Klean Kanteen founder Robert Seals.

The annual tradition of local habitat preservation continues on Saturday when volunteers take part in the Topanga creek and berm clean-up, led by leading biologist Rosi Dagit of Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. All volunteers receive a free day pass to the event. Like every year, festival-goers may catch a ride up to the Topanga Community House Fair Grounds on the Topanga Canyon Boulevard via biodiesel-powered shuttles by Bio Beetle.

The “Opening Ceremony” featuring world flags in the “May Peace Prevail on Earth Ceremony.” He will be joined by authentic Lakota Nation Chief Marvin Swallow and Japanese Shinto Priestess First Lady Hiroko Matsuda Swallow. Colorful Caribbean skirt dancers and West African drummers and dancers will perform pieces by choreographer Cari Ann Shim Sham. Performances during the opening ceremony will include peace and meditation band Gaia Mama, virtuoso percussionist and oud player Hani Naser and very special guests.

MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE

Saturday April 17th 2010

Master Ceremonies
Edwin Lemus, Truth I

10am to11:30am
Yoga
with Govindas & Radha

11:30am to 12:45pm
Opening Ceremony
with Edwin Lemus, Prayer for Peace Flags, Gaia Mama, John Densmore,
Hani Naser, Cari Ann Shim Sham Carribean Skirt Dancers, African Drummers & Dancers

12:45pm to 1:30pm
The Chiefs

1:40pm to 2:10pm
Dana Wood & Dina

2:20pm to 2:50
Griffith Frank

3pm to 3:35pm
Arlan & Kara

3:50pm to 5:20pm
Moonalice

5:35pm to 6:05pm
HunnyBunch

6:05 to 6:15
Victor Bisetti & Danny Frankel

6:30pm to 8pm
Buffy Sainte-Marie

8:15pm to 9:30pm
Cubensis

Sunday, April 18, 2010

10am to11:45am
Yoga

12pm to 12:45pm
Custom

1pm to 1:30pm
I,Star

1:40pm to 2:10pm
Rowan Storm

2:20pm to 3:20pm
Donna Delory

3:35pm to 4:20pm
Luis Conte

4:20pm to 4:50pm
Melanie Kareem
Belly Dancers

5pm to 6:30pm
Leon Mobley & Da Lion

6:30pm
Drumming
& Closing Ceremony with Everybody!

11th annual Topanga Earth Day festival

Topanga Community House Fair Grounds
1440 North Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 90290
Saturday, April 17, 2010
10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
Website
Park and Ride! Free BioDiesel Shuttle to the festival
from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., through Sunday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

L.A. Environmental Education Fair

Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, 91007
Saturday, March 13, 2010
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Garden Admission (Adults $8.00; Students and Seniors $6.00; Children Ages 5-12 $3.00; Children under 5 and Members FREE)
Website

Experience a greener tomorrow at The Los Angeles County Arboretum during the L.A. Environmental Fair on Saturday, March 13, 2010. Discover the latest hands-on activities, ready-to-use lesson ideas, and useful resources that are easily incorporated into everyday life from leading organizations that promote environmental education and awareness. Lively entertainment with music, crafts, hands-on activities, and storytelling will make this a fun-filled day for all. Visit wild animals, pick-up a free pine seedling, participate in environmental challenges, and take an “Eco-Tour” to some of the unique areas of the Arboretum. Joinin on a free workshops designed to teach families and children ways that they can help make the world a little greener!

The Ecological Treasure Hunt is open to students in grades 4 through 12. Using a map and compass, teams will explore the ecological treasures of The Arboretum. Participants are challenged to answer questions about the world of nature. The Eco Hunt is also open to the public. Contact Gary Widdison, (562) 922-6889 to participate.

Sponsors of this event are the City of Arcadia, Los Angeles County Office of Education, CREEC-LA, Girl Scouts, Mt. Wilson–Vista Council, Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Forestry Division, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School, Los Angeles Zoo, and TreePeople.

Photo by rento.rm

Fruit Tree Giveaway!

Watts Towers Arts Center & Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center
1761-1765 East 107th Street, Los Angeles, 90059
Saturday, February 6, 2010
NOON-3 pm
AND
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90036
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Noon -3 pm
Ages: All
Cost: FREE (while supplies last! so hurry!)

Artist collective Fallen Fruit kicks off a yearlong project, EATLACMA, with a fruit tree giveaway. Pick up a free fruit tree along with planting instructions for your garden. While supplies last.

Baby Steps to a Greener Life

Now more than ever is the call to environmentalism and conservation more crucial. From the world’s steady climate increase to the suffering Polar bear population, signs of global warming are too prevalent to ignore. Cause for even greater attention is the fact that the way we live our lives can contribute to, or help alleviate, the global warming phenomenon.

This year we hope to take real steps–even if they’re baby steps–to practice conservation, sustainability and environmentalism, and to bring our kids along during the journey. The earlier we cultivate a respect for our planet, the more routine green practices will become for our kids.

Here are some of our ideas to be more green, but don’t forget to also regularly check out the Green Living section of L.A. Kid Stuff for ongoing suggestions.

Educating Ourselves

Go Green Expo Los Angeles
Spend this weekend hearing suggestions on how to live more sustainable lives and what products are the most environmentally friendly, from baby and kid stuff to household cleaning supplies. (MORE)

Sustainable Sundays at the Natural History Museum
A monthly series at the Natural History Museum that brings together experts and the public to find green, innovative local solutions to far-reaching global problems, from climate change and water conservation to land use, preserving our environment and protecting Earth’s biodiversity. The first workshop for this year is this Sunday, Others planned include Waste Not, Want Not about recycling and World Water Day L.A. on water conservation. (MORE)

The Environmental Protection Agency Website for Kids
An excellent Global Warming primer for kids (and anyone interested in the simple lowdown on the topic, for that matter). Graphics, videos and colorful photos engage kids while educating them.

Nature.org
An excellent website that will explain, then help you calculate your and your family’s carbon output with a handy online calculator. carbon footprint calculator estimates how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases you create each year. Your average compared to someone in a developing nation will shock you.

TheGreenGuide
This site has real world tips on how to live more environmentally responsible lives, from using energy efficient light bulbs and recycling to rainwater harvesting and tips for greener travel.

Earth911.com
Want to know how and why things are recycled, from paper to plastic to electronics? This website will tell you. Get tips and how-tos on reusing everyday objects to composting in your backyard. News articles about everything on recycling. The best part of the site, a search engine that will connect you (your zip code) to the nearest location where you can recycle types of items that you specify (such as batteries, computers, glass, etc.)

Buying Local and Living with Less

Shop at Farmers Markets
Not only do Famers Markets offer locally grown produce which is good for the environment and our local farmers, but the prices on organic goods are often cheaper than what you’ll find at your local Whole Foods or specialty brick and mortar. Add to that the abundance of children’s activities at many of these Farmers markets and it’s a win-win proposition for the whole family. Check out our updated Kid Friendly Farmers Markets list HERE.

Be Green with a Green Thumb
The only thing better than buying from a local farmer is growing your own food. But in the concrete jungle that is L.A., not everyone’s dwelling is connected to a plot of dirt suitable for a garden. You can still teach your kids the importance and benefits of gardening at your local community garden. The Los Angeles Community Garden Council lists community gardens near you. Community Gardens are like public parks but are maintained by the public. For a small fee you can use a plot of land–designated for you–to grow your garden. You will tend, cultivate and harvest from your own plot. (MORE)

Kids Toy Making Workshop
What’s better than kids learning to make their own toys, teaching them creativity as well as self sufficiency. It may not make all of your family’s big retail box toy needs disappear, but an appreciation for and sense of pride in something made with their own hands may lengthen the time until your next stop at the toy store. (MORE)

Creative and Crafty Kid at Craft ‘N Sew Program
A do-it-yourselfer’s best resource is Hands on Third, where next week a six-week Craft ‘N Sew session will start for kids ages 5 and up. The session will include Puppet Making, Costume Design, Recycled Art, Decoupage, Make your own Robots, Monsters and more! (MORE)

Family Activities Fostering Love & Respect for Nature

Plant Trees Together
It’s not what you’re doing, it’s who you’re with…except sometimes it is what you’re doing, and who you’re with makes it that much better. It’s not written anywhere that volunteering as a family for activities such as community tree plantings can’t be fun as well! Next weekend join an Eagle Award prospect plant 34 trees along a business district in Long Beach. (MORE)

Whale Watching
The beauty and grace of creatures of the ocean can spur discussions on how they live, their habitat and the interconnection between people, animals and the earth. (MORE)

Restoration Parties at Ballona Wetlands
You don’t need a reservation to learn about birds and the importance of their natural environment at the Ballona fresh water marshes or to take an in-depth tour of the Ballona salt marshes and sand dunes. Do so on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, then understand the importance of what you and your family are doing when you help restore the sand dunes and trails at a Restoration Party. (MORE)

Buy Local at Farmers Markets

Not only do Famers’ Markets offer locally grown produce which is good for the environment and our local farmers, but the prices on organic goods are often cheaper than what you’ll find at your local Whole Foods or specialty brick and mortar. Add to that the abundance of children’s activities at many of these Farmers markets and it’s a win-win proposition for the whole family.

Below is a list of a few of L.A. Kid Stuff’s favorite kid and family-friendly Farmer’s Markets in the L.A. area so you can start cultivating the next generation of farmers market supporters in a fun and enjoyable way! Activities are usually free; pony and train rides have a minimal fee. L.A. Kid Stuff confirmed that these markets have vendors that are Certified Organic Farmers, or farmers who are 99% pesticide free.

Beverly Hills Farmers Market

9300 Block of Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, 90210
Sundays
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (rain or shine)
(310) 285-6830
(MORE INFO)

Hollywood Farmers Market

Ivar between Sunset Blvd. and Hollywood Blvd.
Sundays
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
(323) 463-3171
(MORE INFO)

Studio City Farmers Market

Ventura Place, between Ventura and Laurel Canyon Boulevards
Sundays
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
(818) 655-7744
(MORE INFO)

Santa Monica Main Street Farmers Market

2640 Main Street
Santa Monica,
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
(310) 391-9996
(MORE INFO)

Pasadena Farmers Market (Victory Park)

North Sierra Madre Boulevard and Paloma Street
Saturdays
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(626) 449-0179
(MORE INFO)

West Los Angeles Farmers Market

Corner of Purdue Avenue at Santa Monica Blvd.
Sundays
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
(310) 281-7855
(MORE INFO)

Helen Albert Certified Farmers Market

Plummer Park North Parking Lot
1200 N. Vista Street, West Hollywood
Mondays
9:00am – 2:00pm
(MORE INFO)